SEATTLE -- Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump still plans to visit Washington state this weekend, according to his campaign state chair. Details of Trump's visit are expected to be announced Wednesday afternoon.
While Trump still hasn’t reached the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, the race was effectively over after Ted Cruz suspended his campaign Tuesday evening. John Kasich is expected to suspend his campaign Wednesday.
When asked if the Washington state Republican party supports Trump as their nominee, Chairman Susan Hutchison said, “We support the Republican to defeat Hillary Clinton.”
Republican candidate for Senate, Chris Vance, and gubernatorial candidate Bill Bryant have both tried to distance themselves from Trump in the past. Both have not responded to requests for comment.
“Everyone is processing the news that the contest is over. Much can happen between now and November. Primaries are tough, and this one has been particularly so,” Hutchison said.
King County GOP Chairman Lori Sotelo issued a statement calling for the Party to unify: "The voice of the people has been heard, and our Republican Party nominee for President will be Donald Trump."
Sotelo continued, "Now is the time for our party to coalesce behind our nominee to elect a Republican president who will defeat the Clinton machine and uphold our Republican values."
While ballots for Washington’s presidential primary are being mailed out later this week, secretary of state Democratic candidate Tina Podlodowski called on Secretary of State Kim Wyman to cancel the primary. Podlodowski says the $11.5 million used for the election is “meaningless.”
“It is impossible to cancel an election that is already underway. People are voting as we speak. Some 65,000 military and overseas ballots were sent out weeks ago and they could be voted right away,” said Secretary of State spokesman Dave Ammons.
“The Primary funding, $11.5 million -- mostly to cover the counties' costs -- was approved by both houses, both parties, and the governor. It would have been held March 8, as Secretary Wyman strongly advocated, but that effort was blocked by a party that insisted on using the caucus system that was widely criticized recently,” said Ammons.